Specific-gravity tester



I. H. KESSLER. SPECIFIC GRAVITY TESTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. I919.

1,360,537, E Patented Nov. 30', 1920.

INVENTOR WITNESSES M8267"- ATTORNEY worm HENsoN KESSLER, or vrNELAnD, new JERSEY.

SPECIFIC-GRAVITY T S ER.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. KEssLnR, a citizen of the United States, residing'atVineland, in the county ofUumberland and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Specific-(irravityTesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for testing specific gravity, and particularly to apparatus designed for use with cooked food products to determineaccurately their condition and quality.

The special object of the tester -is to provide a means to be used when cooking down fruit and vegetable pulp or juices so that a uniform density will obtain with every batch turned out, thereby making it easy for the manufacturer to deliver a standard product to the trade.

F or a complete understanding of the invention, the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification should be referred to.

In the drawing Figure l is an elevation of the tester ready to take up a sample, and

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of the same with a charge of material to be tested.

Speaking generally the tester in its preferred form embodies a glass vessel having a tube or stem 5, a buoyancy bulb 6, a sample bulb or chamber 7, a neck 8 connecting the two bulbs, a valve chamber 9 and a tube 10, all of which are integral with each other and connect to form a continuous passageway.

The stem 5 is hollow and has graduations ll etched or otherwise formed on its inner or outer surface. At its lower end the stem chamber is connected the valve chamber 9;.

In the valve chamberis placed a valve stem 13 preferably of glass, with a handle 14 and a port 15. The latter runs diagonally through the stem as shown. The tube 10 is connected to the valve chamber onthe lower side but Speeification' of Letters Patent. 7

I Patented Nov. 30, 1920. 1 Application filed September 23, 1919. seas No. 325,814

is offset with respect tothe' remainder'of the I vessel, so that only when the valve stemis V rotated to placethe ends of the port 15 in communication with the sample chamber and the tube, is'there a-possibility tamarinpassing into the chamber from the tube.

The device is used as 'followsrfWith the valve in; the position shown in'Fig. ,l'the offsetltube 'isinserted in the substance to be tested, and the operator putsthe upper or stem end of'the instrument in his mouth and sucks. The substance will rise to the desired helght, approximately to the mark 12, when the operator closes the valve and thus entraps the desired sample in the tester. If there is more in the tester than is needed it 1 is easy to let a little escape by opening the valve and shutting the same the moment the level of the sample alines with the mark 12. The tester with its sample is now put in a vessel of water, whereupon it will float upright, due to the empty buoyancy chamber and the filled sample holding bulb below. The heavier the sample is, the lower the instrument will float. In any case the level of the instrument is read by looking along the surface of the water and reading the graduation on the stem where the stem enters the water. 'After the reading the sample use in testing food products during cooking,

and

such as catchup, maple syrup, 1811f,

' t can,

others too numerous to mentlon.

however, be used in the determination of the specific gravity of any liquid or fluent matev e rial, whether or not fit for food.

One advantage of the offset tube 10 is of the tester in a vessel containing cooking foodstufisand draw up a sample into the tester by applying his lips at the upper. end.

without being subjected to the steam arising from thecooking. A further advantage is that the device always floats in an upright position, because the valve stem is counterbalanced. Were this tube not offset, the valve stem would make the tester float in an inclined position, in which it would vbe that. it enables the operator to place the end particulars without departing from the! scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the mark 12 may be placed elsewhere on the tester than in the particular location specified. The valve may be of a difierent type fromthat' shown. More than two bulbs may be used for holding the sample and for supplying the necessary buoyancy, and they may be made of different shapes. Other departures from the specific combination may be made.

The tester besides the advantages already mentioned is easily cleaned, and is easily and cheaply manufactured, being made of but two pieces.

hat is claimed is 1. In a specific gravity tester, a pair of similar bulbs, a neck connecting the two bulbs, a hollow stem communicating with one bulb, a valve in communication with the other bulb, and a tube depending from and open to the valve and ofiset with respect to the rest of the device.

2. In a specific gravity tester, a plurality of hollow bulbs, a hollow neck communicating with said bulbs and having a mark thereon, a hollow stem communicating with the uppermost of the bulbs and provided with graduations and open at the top, a valve communicating with the lowermost of the bulbs,,and an offset tube opening into and depending from the valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 7 my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature 1n the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENSON KES SLER, PHG. 

